The one dollar coin is inscribed with an octagon, which looks like a ba gua, a Chinese lucky charm. Feng shui masters are believed to have said that the construction of MRT tunnels through downtown Singapore would have an adverse effect; they recommended that every household display a bagua to negate this. Bearing in mind that there were many locals who did not adhere to this Chinese belief, this was not possible. Thus the design of the one dollar coin. A popular urban myth in Singapore states that fortune tellers told Lee Kwan Yew that his dynasty would remain in power provided the octagon was spread throughout the city state.

Labels: Diary